The Other

I thought this was an amazing pod. I love the way it was filmed and produced and the music was also cool. I see things from another's view...I loved the vantage point that you took to do this pod.
Thanks for doing it James S.

Beautiful

One of the best pods I've seen here on Current. As everyone said, Well done!

well...these words echo in my mind everyday

This is amazing! Wish we could see more of this sort of works soon!

very beautiful and powerful, thanks for the transcript

this POD is amazing! I love the unique point of view in it, and it really helps shed some light on how some GLBT's feel about coming out. Even now that it is becoming more widely accepted. I also love the slam-poetry vibe I get from it ^-^

As i've received countless emails asking for a transcript for this, here you go. I'm thrilled to hear people have been so effected by this...

TRANSCRIPT FOR "THE OTHER"

The voice you’re hearing isn’t me.
The images you’ll see may or may not be.

I am a constellation,
seen by the eyes of millions as something I am not.

Hidden by traffic congestion,
happily avoiding the headlights of your car.
But I’m certain we’ve met.

I was born in a suburb outside a major city.
Raised for marriage and kids.
Protected by police who ticket soccer moms
and property taxes high enough to keep diversity from the country clubs.

Bigot Golfer:
“Did ya hear the one about the jew, the negro & the bagel shop? Hahaha.”

Kids can be mean...
Or maybe too honest.
And adults just as bad with less excuse.

You’ve all told me that I’m not normal.
Slightly unnatural.
Unless of course I’m telling a bitchy joke or critiquing your outfit.

I’m not so obvious --
Whatever that means.

No attitude, no drugs
No short shorts or crooked visors.
No showtunes, no Cher, no Madonna.
Okay maybe a little Madonna,
but only in my private time.

I’m married to my work and to changing the world,
avoiding the one most personal to me.

An actor on stage, a man with a camera...
allowing you to see only so much of me.

A past unchanged.
Relationships too strong to discount.

There’s no direct answer I can offer today,
questions hanging above me waiting to crush...

Don’t make me look up.

Why do you need to know?

Besides, no matter what I say,
you’ll still believe what you want to believe.
You obviously know me better than me.
Read the headlines! Spare me the need to explain.

We’ve apparently come so far, yet not if your legs are too lazy to walk.

If things are so good, why am I still ashamed
to scratch an itch that’s not going away?

Why am I too scared to face the lens?

Should I sit at the back of the bus?
Maybe I wont take it at all.

We all have things we don’t know how to face:
High blood pressure, a cheating spouse.
Overbearing parents, fading memories...
An alcoholic uncle who talks too close.

Love. Death.

This one is my obstacle.

I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me.
I don’t and neither should you.

Some know, some someday will.
But why am I ashamed?

I just refuse to be judged as the people who’ve defined me
before I had a say.

Each one of us is a separate sky enclosing a world all our own...

Why should I tell?
Why invite you in?

Knowledge is a gift, not something deserved.

So for now, I’ll remain married to my work
and out to change the world.

...Even if I have to do it alone.

As long as I’m know for the human that I am,
who I want to be.
And not just the other that I don’t.

The imagery you have seen may have been me or not.
But I’m certain we’ll meet.

Maybe one day — some day — I’ll feel proud to tell.
but for now that day seems forever away.

Wow... what can I say about this. I was watching Current tonight for the first time and saw this. I was on the computer doing other stuff while listening to what was on - until this came on. I immediately stopped what I was doing and was captivated by every single word. As I was watching and listening I was thinking about how the things being said reflected occurrences in my life and at the same time probably reflected everyone life - no matter who they were. James, Thank you for making this... very moving and beautiful.

I saw your video on current TV today. What a flood of emotion came over me as it was if you were giving voice to the very things I could never distill into cogent thoughts and words. I am 54 years old and still struggling with finding my place. Please, if you have a written transcript of that piece, could you send it to me?? I would be forever grateful

Wow... just amazing

I love it!